ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia tailbacks Isaiah Crowell and Carlton Thomas pledged this past week to earn back the trust of Bulldogs fans following their suspensions last Saturday.
They did, and quickly.
Crowell rushed for 132 yards and Thomas ran for 127 in Saturday’s 45-7 thumping of Auburn, giving Georgia two 100-yard tailbacks in the same game for the first time since Washaun Ealey and Caleb King did so in a 2009 win at Georgia Tech. It was the fourth 100-yard game this season for Crowell but was a career first for Thomas, the 5-foot-7, 163-pound junior out of Frostproof, Fla.
Thomas amassed 72 yards in the first half, surpassing the totals of Crowell (18) and Auburn counterparts Onterio McCalebb (7) and Michael Dyer (4) combined.
“I wouldn’t have believed that,” Thomas said afterward when informed of the stat. “I really didn’t know what was going to happen today. Obviously I got more time and we pulled out a big win.